THE CEHR: WHAT CAN IT DO FOR YOU?


THE CEHR: WHAT CAN IT DO FOR YOU? We give you the low-down on the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights. WHAT IS IT? The Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) opens for business on 1 October. Set up as a result of the 2006 Equality Act, the CEHR will take on the role and functions of the Disability Rights Commission (the DRC), the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Commission for Racial Equality, as well as having responsibilities for issues around religion and belief, sexual orientation, transgender status, age and human rights. WILL DISABILITY GET FORGOTTEN AMONG ALL THESE OTHER EQUALITY ISSUES? This is a concern that has been voiced by some disability rights campaigners but, according to the CEHR, it’s unlikely to happen. The DRC’s chairman Sir Bert Massie is working as a transitional commissioner, passing his expertise on to the CEHR, and many staff from the DRC will be joining the new organisation. Long-time disability rights campaigner Jane Campbell has been chosen to chair the CEHR’s Disability Committee – a statutory committee with which the CEHR will work in consultation every time they exercise their powers in relation to disability matters. As chair of the Office for Disability Issues, a trustee of the National Centre for Independent Living and former chairperson of the British Council for Disabled People, it’s fair to say that Jane will make sure disability issues remain at the forefront of the CEHR’s work. ARE THERE ANY OTHER IMPORTANT FIGURES IN THE CEHR? Trevor Phillips was appointed chair of the CEHR in September 2006, coming straight from his role as chair of the Commission for Racial Equality. He is particularly interested in the diversity of multicultural Britain and the history of Britain’s role in the slave trade, but he is equally determined to fight the corner for disability. In a speech at the launch of the DRC’s Disability Agenda in February 2007, Trevor Phillips said that the CEHR must be a “coalition of hope” and “the guarantor of standards of decency and fairness in our society”. He explained: “It has to be a change maker for the whole of society – a body which uses both its leadership role and its legal powers to build a society that recognises the worth of all people and ensures that no one is excluded by cause of gender, sexual orientation or race, religion or belief, age, or of course disability.” Trevor was also chair of the recent Equalities Review. WHAT WILL THE CEHR'S POWERS BE? The CEHR will act for disadvantaged people and for all of society. Like the DRC before it, it will be able to use enforcement powers where necessary to guarantee people’s equality and protect their human rights. In fact, the CEHR will be Britain’s first national body tasked with promoting the values of the Human Rights Act – its new powers to take on human rights cases will be a valuable tool in the fight against discrimination in its many forms. WILL THE CEHR BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SAME ADVICE AND SUPPORT AS THE DRC? The procedure for approaching the organisation for help and advice – for example, if you believe you have a legal case under the Disability Discrimination Act – is the same as under the DRC. Help and advice can be obtained via the website, helpline or in writing. Popular sections of the DRC website, including resources such as the Using Your Rights section and British Sign Language videos, will be transferred over to the CEHR’s site. The Talktype facility will be available through the CEHR helpline from 1 October, and helpline queries will be just as accessible as they were under the DRC – if not more accessible, with Welsh and Scottish queries dealt with at a national level so individuals will have a more tailored service – for example the majority of helpline staff in Wales will be bilingual, making the service accessible to Welsh speakers. FURTHER INFORMATION Until 1 October, further information will be available from the DRC on 08457 622 633 or you can visit www.cehr.org.uk. Taken from the Able`s website www.ablemagazine.co.uk/ With Thanks!
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